Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G Review: Good inexpensive universal smartphone
Let’s delve into the features and performance of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G, a device that promises significant upgrades over its predecessor, the Redmi Note 12 5G.
The Redmi Note 13 5G smartphone introduces several notable enhancements compared to its predecessor. Firstly, the main camera now boasts an impressive 108-megapixel resolution, promising sharper and more detailed photos.
Another key upgrade is the implementation of a faster processor, enhancing overall performance and responsiveness. Combined with increased memory, the Redmi Note 13 5G offers improved multitasking and smoother operation, catering to the demands of modern smartphone users.
In this review you will find out whether the Redmi Note 13 5G is the right choice for you and what the strengths and weaknesses of the smartphone are.
| Specs | Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| Memory Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Display | 6.67 inches, AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 120Hz, 1000 nits (peak), 20:9 ratio |
| Display Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Software | Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| SIM support | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| NFC | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Ports | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| Rear cameras | 108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 33W wired |
| Dust/water resistance | IP54, dust and splash resistant |
| Size | 161.1 x 75 x 7.6 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 174.5 g (6.14 oz) |
| Colors | Graphite black (Stealth Black), Arctic White, Ocean Teal, Prism Gold |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G: Design
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G introduces itself as a sleek and feature-packed smartphone that doesn’t break the bank. With dimensions measuring 161 x 75 x 7.6 millimeters and a weight of 175 grams, it strikes a balance between portability and usability. Despite its large 6.7-inch display, its compact design makes it surprisingly manageable, setting it apart in its price range. The narrow display edges, measuring just 3mm at the sides and top, and 4mm at the bottom, enhance the immersive viewing experience.
One notable feature is the integration of the fingerprint scanner into the power button, situated conveniently on the right side of the device. While the absence of an in-display fingerprint sensor may disappoint some, the side-mounted scanner on the 5G version proves to be faster and incredibly accurate. Users can customize the unlocking method in the settings, choosing between a simple touch or button press, or opt for the convenience of face unlock using the front camera.
Constructed with a plastic back and frame, the Redmi Note 13 5G offers a choice of color options including black, white, and the eye-catching “Ocean Teal.” The matte finish not only repels fingerprints and grease stains but also provides enhanced scratch resistance compared to its predecessor. However, as with any device, caution is advised against sharp objects, with the included protective cover offering additional peace of mind.
In terms of durability, the Redmi Note 13 5G boasts an IP54 certification, making it resistant to dust and splashes. While this level of protection is common among smartphones with standard build quality, it adds an extra layer of reliability for everyday use. A mono speaker located at the bottom, alongside the USB-C 2.0 port, delivers decent audio quality, although the absence of stereo sound may disappoint some users. Nevertheless, the inclusion of a headphone jack and IR transmitter for remote control functionality adds versatility to the device.
For users requiring expandable storage, the Redmi Note 13 5G offers a hybrid SIM slot, accommodating either a second SIM card or a MicroSD card for additional storage capacity. This flexibility ensures that users can tailor the device to their specific needs, whether it be for work or entertainment purposes.
Display
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G elevates the viewing experience with its impressive 6.67-inch AMOLED display, boasting a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels and a buttery-smooth refresh rate of 120 Hz. This combination of high resolution and enhanced refresh rate sets a new standard in the affordable smartphone segment, ensuring razor-sharp images and seamless motion.
By default, the display is set to 60 Hz, which might seem unusual given its capabilities, but users can easily adjust it to the higher 120 Hz setting for a smoother experience.
One noticeable upgrade from the 4G version is the use of Gorilla Glass 5, offering improved durability and protection against scratches and impacts. The Redmi Note 13 5G also boasts a 10-bit color depth, TÜV Rheinland certification for low blue light emissions, and 1920 Hz PWM dimming for flicker-free display, catering to the needs of sensitive users.
Despite the manufacturer’s claim of a display brightness of just 500 lux, independent measurements reveal a much brighter performance, with the device achieving an impressive 1250 lux. This brightness level ensures excellent readability even in direct sunlight, enhancing the device’s usability in various lighting conditions.
The display settings offer users a range of customization options, including the ability to adjust color display preferences and intelligently switch between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rates. The inclusion of Widevine L1 support enables seamless playback of DRM-protected content, while HDR support further enhances the viewing experience.
However, there is a limitation with the always-on display feature, which only activates upon touch and cannot remain permanently on (sometimes-on display). Despite this minor drawback, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G’s display stands out as a key feature, offering an immersive and high-quality viewing experience that exceeds expectations in its price range.
Performance
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G is powered by the MediaTek 6080, serving as its central processing unit. This octa-core chip, introduced in mid-2023, is manufactured using the efficient 6-nanometer process, promising a balance of performance and power efficiency. Comprising two high-performance cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and six power-saving cores running at 2 GHz, the CPU ensures smooth multitasking and responsiveness.
Handling the graphics duties is the Mali G57 GPU, delivering competent performance for gaming and multimedia experiences. The device also offers LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage configurations of either 6/128GB or 8/256GB, providing ample space for apps, media, and files. The storage achieves commendable read speeds of 1000MB/s and write speeds of 500MB/s, ensuring swift access to stored data.
Benchmark tests showcase the MediaTek 6080’s prowess, outperforming previous generations of Redmi Note smartphones and delivering impressive results for a device in its price range. While it may fall slightly short of the performance offered by the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, the overall performance is still commendable, especially considering its affordability.
In real-world usage, the Redmi Note 13 5G excels in system and app performance, offering a noticeable improvement over its 4G counterpart. Users can expect smoother operation with reduced stuttering and waiting times, although some slight loading times may still occur when opening apps. Nevertheless, considering its price point of under $300, the device’s performance can be considered excellent, offering great value for budget-conscious consumers.
OS
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G comes equipped with Android 13 and MIUI 14 out of the box, offering users a stable and versatile operating system with a plethora of additional functions. Thanks to Xiaomi’s optimization efforts, the smartphone proves to be consistently reliable in tests, ensuring a smooth user experience.
While MIUI offers numerous features, including the ability to set up a second profile, it’s worth noting that the dual apps function is not available. However, users can uninstall unwanted pre-installed third-party apps without much hassle. Additionally, instructions are available for those who wish to further optimize and streamline the system, including the option to deactivate advertisements within minutes.
Camera
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G continues the trend set by its 4G counterpart, featuring an impressive 108-megapixel main sensor that captures stunning detail and clarity in daylight conditions. Unlike the Pro models, optical stabilization is not utilized, but this doesn’t hinder the device’s ability to produce striking images. Alongside the main sensor, there’s an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 16-megapixel selfie camera, offering versatility for various shooting scenarios.
In daylight, the Redmi Note 13 5G excels, delivering consistently sharp and detailed photos with excellent contrast and natural colors. The HDR mode effectively balances exposure, resulting in well-balanced shots without over or underexposure. Whether capturing landscapes or close-up shots, the device consistently impresses with its image quality.
Even in challenging low-light conditions, the Redmi Note 13 5G performs admirably, preserving details and sharpness in indoor and outdoor shots. The camera maintains natural color reproduction without noticeable color casts, making it a reliable choice for night photography.
The wide-angle camera offers decent performance in good lighting conditions, providing usable images with minimal edge distortion. Even in less favorable lighting, the camera delivers acceptable results suitable for smartphone displays, demonstrating its versatility.
For portrait shots, the Redmi Note 13 5G reliably separates the foreground from the background, resulting in pleasing images with good sharpness. While the color representation may occasionally appear slightly muted, overall performance remains commendable for a device in its price range.
Selfie enthusiasts will appreciate the consistent colors, contrast, and sharpness delivered by the front-facing camera. While lacking some detail compared to pricier alternatives, the Redmi Note 13 5G’s selfie camera performs well overall, especially considering its affordability.
When it comes to video recording, the device supports Full HD recording at 30FPS, providing sharp and stabilized footage with reliable autofocus. While 4K recording is not supported, the Full HD videos remain crisp and stable, with the ultra-wide-angle camera also capable of capturing usable footage in optimal lighting conditions. Selfie videos are similarly supported in Full HD with stabilization, accompanied by good sound quality.
Connectivity
As a dual-SIM smartphone, the Redmi Note 13 5G supports 5G, 3G, and 4G network frequencies, making it suitable for use in various regions. With support for a wide range of bands, it’s an appealing option for frequent travelers. Despite 5G being relatively rare in this price range, the device offers good data throughput in 5G networks, reaching speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s.
In terms of connectivity, the smartphone features WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, and support for high-resolution Bluetooth codecs such as LDAC and aptX. It also includes essential sensors like brightness, proximity, acceleration, gyroscope, and electronic compass. With GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BDS, and Beidou support, positioning is accurate to within one meter.
Additional features include NFC for contactless payments, an IR transmitter for remote control functionality, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack with support for radio reception. While the mono speaker at the bottom delivers decent audio quality, it falls short of expectations for stereo sound.
Battery life
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, providing ample power to keep you going throughout the day. In real-world usage, the device delivers a commendable battery life, typically lasting a full day with moderate to heavy usage and even stretching to 1.5 days with lighter usage patterns.
In a battery test scenario, the Redmi Note 13 5G demonstrated its efficiency, utilizing only 33% of the battery over the course of 1 hour of streaming (4%), 1 hour of social media usage (16%), 30 minutes of Full HD video recording (10%), and 30 minutes of gaming (6%). These results are indicative of the device’s ability to handle a variety of tasks without draining the battery excessively.
However, it’s worth noting that compared to the 4G version, the Redmi Note 13 5G exhibits slightly weaker battery performance and doesn’t achieve top results in PCMark battery tests. Despite this, the device still offers a respectable battery life that should satisfy most users’ needs.
When it comes time to recharge, the Redmi Note 13 5G supports fast charging up to 33 watts. Using the included charging adapter, the device can be fully charged in approximately 75 minutes. While this charging time is slightly slower than the 4G version with the same battery capacity and charging rate, it remains efficient enough for most users’ needs. Additionally, a quick 30-minute charge can provide a significant boost to the battery, ensuring you’re never left stranded with a depleted device.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G: Conclusion
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5G emerges as a compelling choice in the mid-range smartphone market, boasting significant upgrades over its predecessor. With a noticeable performance boost courtesy of the MediaTek processor, coupled with improvements in camera quality, this year’s model offers a more exciting user experience.
One of the standout features of the Redmi Note 13 5G is its 120Hz AMOLED display, which delivers smooth and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall viewing experience.
While the absence of an in-display fingerprint scanner may disappoint some users, the device’s performance and overall feature set more than make up for this minor drawback. Additionally, while the mono speakers may not offer the same immersive audio experience as stereo speakers, they still deliver decent sound quality for media playback and calls.
With improvements across the board compared to its predecessor, the Redmi Note 13 5G earns a clear recommendation for those in search of a capable and reliable smartphone in the mid-range segment.
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